The Lewis System

The Lewis system is unique among blood group systems in that the antigens are not manufactured within the erythrocyte, nor do they form an integral part of the cytoskeletal membrane. While antibodies against antigens in this system are fairly commonly encountered, they are generally not considered to be clinically significant in transfusion. Because Lewis phenotype expression is based upon the interaction of several genes, and because the phenotype expression can be transient, the Lewis system is a unique system to learn about.

Presented by
Justin R. Rhees, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, SBBCM
Assistant Professor, Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Utah

Subscribe to our MLS Education Newsletter for the latest news regarding our educational resources.

Click to Subscribe
Your information will not be shared externally.

Comments and Feedback

To provide the highest quality information and educational content, we welcome your comments and feedback. We would also like to extend the invitation and encourage you to collaborate with us to create new content as we work to enhance the value of this resource to all MLS programs. Feel free to contact:

Alyssa Peña, MLS(ASCP)CM
800-242-2787 ext. 3952
Distance Education Coordinator
ARUP Laboratories